Disclaimer: I own Rhiodoru, Karameida, Zaniistar, Kishotaka, Niishi, Yuryu, Akaruihi, Tsuyoihi, and Kiirohana. All other characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi.
Together Again
Kagome's smile grew as she watched Inuyasha staring at the new arrivals. "Sesshomaru also brought Kohaku back to life, and the spirit dragon Healers were able to help him with the memories of what Naraku did."
The boy peeked shyly at Inuyasha from behind Sango. The demon slayer smiled, peace in her eyes as she wrapped an arm around her brother's shoulders.
Miroku sat down on the stool Kagome had vacated. "Well, Inuyasha, how does it feel to know that we finally did it? Naraku is dead, and Shikon Jewel is purified and gone from this world."
Inuyasha blinked rapidly, his mind still trying to catch up. "Uh, good?" he mumbled.
The monk chuckled. "I'm feeling a great deal better than just good myself, but then, my mind didn't fall apart on me." The monk held up his right hand and waggled his fingers.
Inuyasha blinked. "The windtunnel—?"
"Gone," Miroku said, startling them with a brilliant smile. Peeling Shippo off Inuyasha, the monk's expression became serious. "So tell us, Inuyasha. Just how, exactly, did you purify the Jewel?"
Inuyasha scowled darkly at the monk. "I don't know," he growled, spacing out each word.
Sango and Miroku blinked in surprise.
"He doesn't remember," Kagome said quickly. "The Healer said he might lose some memories, after all."
"You don't remember the battle with Naraku?" Sango asked incredulously.
Inuyasha's expression darkened further. "No, I don't remember anything," he said crossly.
Kagome touched Sango's shoulder before the slayer could speak. "He doesn't remember anything since the day we met Niishi."
Everyone but Kagome stared at him. He glowered back.
"It ain't my fault," he snapped.
"Of course not, Inuyasha," Sango said quickly.
Miroku gave the hanyou a small, solemn bow. "We are grateful for your sacrifice for us, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha felt his cheeks warm. He snorted. "What are you babbling about?" he grumbled. "I couldn't even protect myself from Niishi. I caused half your problems."
"Inuyasha," Kagome said sternly, "nothing that happened is your fault. Yuryu manipulated all of us, including Naraku. If it hadn't been for you, we'd all be dead, and Yuryu would have the Sacred Jewel."
Inuyasha grunted noncommittally.
The door opened again, revealing Karameida, Zaniistar, and a dragon with fiery red hair and sad, crimson eyes. The three dragons approached the bed.
Zaniistar smiled down at him. "Glad to see you're back in one piece, Inuyasha. We were pretty worried for a while there."
Karameida, to the surprise of everyone present, swept past Zaniistar and swooped down on Inuyasha, wrapping her arms around him a tight hug.
Stepping back, the shaman gave him a wavering smile. "I'm so glad you're well, Inuyasha," she said warmly. "When Akaruihi arrived at the lair and told us what was happening, I gathered our warriors and we came as fast as we could, but even so, by the time we reached you . . ." She trailed off, her eyes filming with tears. "I'd truly feared we were too late."
Inuyasha blinked, feeling his cheeks warm in yet another blush. "Uh, ah, well . . ."
The spirit dragon shaman smiled again, and patted his shoulder in a sisterly kind of way. "But you've recovered, and that's what matters." She headed for the door. "I just came to check on you. You can stay here as long as you need to, Inuyasha."
She closed the door behind her, looking somewhat embarrassed at her emotional display.
Zaniistar smiled softly. "She'd been worrying about you since the first time she had that vision. Apparently, after I left the visions got even worse."
Inuyasha shrugged uncomfortably, not knowing what to say.
Pinching the red-haired dragon's sleeve, Zaniistar pulled him forward. "This is Akaruihi, Inuyasha. I don't think you two have met yet. Akaruihi, this is Inuyasha."
Inuyasha nodded in greeting.
"I, too, am glad you are well, Inuyasha," the dragon, his voice surprisingly soft. "I want to thank you for killing Yuryu and avenging my brother's death."
"Um, well, I—" Kagome nudged him. "Erm, you're welcome."
The dragon smiled sadly, nodded to each of them, and quietly left.
Zaniistar watched Akaruihi leave, his eyes filled with sorrow. "He still mourns his brother." The dragon glanced at Inuyasha. "Both Akaruihi and Tsuyoihi were ensnared by Yuryu, tricked into helping him. I . . . I killed Tsuyoihi in battle. Akaruihi doesn't hold it against me because it was self-defense, but he's still not comfortable in my presence."
Inuyasha nodded. "Healing takes time," he murmured. It seemed to proper thing to say.
"My, Inuyasha," Miroku said archly, "that didn't sound at all like something you'd normally say. Are you sure the dragon Healers didn't make a mistake when they were putting you back together?"
Inuyasha snarled, then cut off abruptly as a thought occurred to him. "When Sesshomaru was bringing Shippo and Kohaku back to life, why didn't he bring back Akaruihi's brother?"
Zaniistar sighed and shook his head. "There was no body to resurrect."
Miroku, seeing Inuyasha's puzzled frown, explained. "When you destroyed Naraku, his castle—what was left of it—was destroyed too. The explosion of miasma ate away everything, including Tsuyoihi's body. Luckily, we'd moved Shippo and Kohaku away from the castle before we left after you and Yuryu."
There was a long, mournful silence.
"Hey, you know what sucks?" Shippo suddenly said.
"What?" Kagome asked.
"If Inuyasha doesn't remember what happened, then he won't know how to do that purifying thing that you told me about!"
Miroku smirked. "Yeah, that's too bad, Inuyasha. After fifty years you finally get the power of Shikon no Tama—and you can't remember how to use it."
Inuyasha glared at the monk, then snorted. "It doesn't matter. The power only worked on tainted souls, and there ain't any of those now that I can't beat with Tetsusaiga."
The others stared at him. He blinked back. "What?"
"I thought you couldn't remember," Miroku said.
"I don't."
"Then how did you know that the power only worked on 'tainted souls'?"
Inuyasha blinked again and made a sound somewhere between a grunt and an "I don't know".
Zaniistar was watching Inuyasha thoughtfully. "Inuyasha might not remember the actual events themselves, but the knowledge of what happened is still his. I'm sure with a little work he can bring the memories back."
Recalling the fragments of memories he had already glimpsed, Inuyasha suppressed a shudder.
"I'm not really sure I want to remember," he said softly.
"Was it that bad, Inuyasha?" Sango asked quietly.
Inuyasha shrugged. "Not sure, but something tells me I really don't want to know."
Zaniistar patted Inuyasha's shoulder just as Karameida had. "Don't push yourself. If your instincts are telling you that you don't want to remember, I'm sure there's a good reason. It's enough knowing what happened from Kagome's perspective."
The dragon took Miroku and Sango under the elbows and steered them towards the door.
"Inuyasha needs his rest, at least for one more day," Zaniistar said firmly, "so I think we should leave him and Kagome alone."
Miroku smirked over his shoulder. "That hardly sounds like a good way for Inuyasha to get any rest."
The hanyou scowled, then stifled a yawn. Come to think of it, he was tired.
As the others filed out, Shippo and Kohaku with them, Kagome snuggled up beside him again. When they were once again alone, Inuyasha smiled sleepily at Kagome.
"It's over now, isn't it?" he murmured. "The Shikon no Tama is gone, and Naraku is dead. We did it."
Kagome propped herself up on one elbow, looking down at him with soft eyes.
"No, Inuyasha, it's not over. It's just beginning."
He examined the warmth her words brought to his heart, then gave her a teasing smirk.
"What a horribly cheesy thing to say."
She pouted at him. "But true."
Inuyasha nodded, his smile softening. "Yes, true."
Kagome's answering smile lit the darkest corners of his heart.
Then he paused, looking down. A horrible suspicion dawning on him, he lifted the blanket off his chest and peered down.
Dropping the blanket and inwardly cursing spirit dragon Healers, along with all dragons in general, he looked up to glare at Kagome as she failed to stifle her knowing giggle.
"Damn it, why am I naked!"
: x : To Be Continued : x :
A/N:
Sorry about the slow update. And wow, only one more chapter left! Such a bittersweet feeling... xD
Chapter 54 – Forever
